submitted to EFP
As another school year nears the end, Essex County graduates will be attending and/or hosting graduation and prom parties in the coming weeks.
These gatherings, however well supervised still pose risk to hosts and attendees and warrant a warning from the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).
Youth who consume alcohol and/or use illicit drugs remain more vulnerable to negative consequences compared to adults due to their inexperience and lower tolerance to these substances often commonplace at such events. Often, decisions made under the influence lead to detrimental situations that may cause serious injury or death to teens, young adults and innocent victims.
The OPP is again cautioning all parents and caregivers of the inherent dangers of their children attending or hosting after-prom parties. A reminder that property owners can, and have been held civilly responsible for injuries sustained to persons on their property at events like these.
Police want to make it very clear that unsupervised after-prom parties or "field parties" have the potential to be unsafe environments for anyone attending. Reports of assault, both physical and sexual, drug and alcohol related offences, thefts and property damage stemming from these types of parties are frequently reported to and investigated by police.
A significant increased police presence will be noticed during these times as OPP members patrol and enforce Provincial offences and Criminal Code violations but most importantly proactively work to protect the youth in the communities of Essex County.
Everyone has a part to play in community safety and it is our hope that anyone with information on suspected field parties or unsupervised after-prom parties will contact the Essex County OPP Detachment at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
